TRIPLE PLAY

"The Spirit Himself gives witness with our spirit that we are children of God." —Romans 8:16

Before you were born, you lived inside your mother's womb for months. You were aware of her every breath and movement. You could feel the beat of her heart and sense her moods. Although you had never seen your mother, you had an intimate relationship with her. As you matured in her womb, your mother would talk to you. In some way, you could hear the sound of her voice. Because of your position in the womb, you couldn't understand the language she spoke, and it was impossible for you to comprehend her world. She tried to describe her world and reveal herself to you, but you couldn't get the picture. Yet you weren't too young to feel her love for you.

The relationship between mother and pre-born child is analogous to our relationship with the Triune God. The mystery of the Holy Trinity is "inaccessible to reason alone" without divine revelation (Catechism, 237). Yet God reveals Himself to the childlike (Mt 11:25). Like the mother filled with love for her child, the Triune God is always revealing Himself to us. The Father sends His Son Jesus to us (Jn 3:16). The Son reveals the Father "in an unheard-of sense" (Catechism, 240; see also Mt 11:27). We would never know that we could address God as our Father if Jesus hadn't taught us how to pray (Mt 6:9). The Father and the Son send the Spirit. The Spirit reveals the Father and makes us cry out in our hearts "Abba" (Gal 4:6; Rm 8:15).

We can't fully comprehend the Triune God, but we can relate to Him. Strive to be more deeply immersed in Trinity-love.

Praise: Praise Jesus, Who rose by the power of the Father to release the Spirit upon all of us. Alleluia!

(This teaching was submitted by a member of our editorial team.)

Rescript: In accord with the Code of Canon Law, I hereby grant the Nihil Obstat ("Permission to Publish") for One Bread, One Body covering the period from June 1, 2009 through July 31, 2009.†Reverend Joseph R. Binzer, Vicar General of the Archdiocese of Cincinnati, January 5, 2009.

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